Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-07-09
ATExAS CATTLE RANCH.

One Million Acres of Land ControiI-
ed by One Man-The Methods Em-
ployed.
The great Matador ranch is situated
upon the headwaters of Pease river.
and comprises nearly the whole of
Motley county, about one-third of
Dickens, about one-th rd of Cottle, and
about one-fourth of Floyd county, and
contains nearly three hundred more
square miles than the state of Rhode
Island. 1t comprises more than one
million OF acres of land. upon which
there ere more than one hundred thous-
and head of cattle. The location of
this great ranch is one of
peculiar adaptability to the scale of
operations which characterize it as one
OF the most complete and magnificent
ranches in the west. IL covers the
three forks which form the sources of
fease river, with all their affluents and
entire water system, extending thence
to the Brazos, and including some of
the sources of that river. 1t is thus
furnished with an ample supply of
water In all its portions. 1t is also tra-
versed oy thousands of small streams
thal how from the innumerable springs
which burst from the canyons, guIches,
and breaks of the plains. Its physical
features are divided between the plains
which compose about fourth of its
area and the basins and broken coun-
try, which CONSIST OF valleys, hills. and
every diversity of landscape, which
from the canyons aud basins often
nave the appearance of mountains of
every variety of shape, but are really
only remnants Of the plains standing
OUT IN peaks hundreds of feet above the
surrounding basins and gulches. These
anord valuable shelter to the cattle
rom the bleak winds or .'northers. as
they are called in Texas, which sweep
over tne plains IN piercing icy blasts |
from the mountains of the north and /
west
Ihe soil of the plains consists of a
reu loan, that of the valleys and basins |
OF sandy loan, and that of the hills /
consists CHIEFLY of sand and gravel. The
prevailing rocks are gypsum and lime |
stone, the former composing the
principal strata. There is nc sion of
any Volcano action. Every formation
= surtaelal and the natural result of
neat air, and water. The plains
arc covered with gramma and mesouit
grass, while the basins and broken
age.
There are five different pastures for
Wills ana horses and two for baaf
cattle, one of which contains ninety
.housand acres and the other ona
nundred thousand acres, and the var .eJ
classes OF cattle are distributed througb-
out the ranch during the diffarsnt
SEASONS. There are sixteen complete
and well-arranged cOrrals for MARKING
auu branding calves, situated in differ
eus parts ot the ranch. and it reouiras
note tnan three hundred miles of fenc-
ing 10 inciose the ranch and divida IT,
pastures. "i'Iue lts
-. mere e are about four thousand buus
VI inherent breeds on the ranch cor,
thnn, 4, 1n. herefords, polled Angus. and
snoT Ttnorns, or Durhams and Their
staues. VI the various mixtures of
.u' n the Iayorite STRAIN is n cross of
sue common Texas COW with the short
norm, and then re-crossed with h.
vSo;o ,V5ui Inc In! Polled Angus is, upon the
whoie, the best adapted to the nIains
= thelr long hair protects them battnr
aom the bleak winds which swesn
eser the elevated ranches ''p
mere about one thousand saddle and
kept for the Use of rbe
my anu tne average number of cow
spss employed during the entire wear is
Aoout seVenty-tive. Some of these arc
4 guard-camps in different parts Of ,bs
.aneh' whence they saliy forth. daiiU
ana traverse the ranch in eyer -
~ ,,oh 70 see that all is we'll with The cat
~. sn,o anu 70 give them whatever assist
,L auce may De necessary. Others w.toh
sue fences some repair the WAGON anI
sonsds =. anu ~ some go over the ranch in
msa daaas OF dozen in charge of a fora
"a ma esrrslng with them a wagon Load
~ hs Win provisions COOKING StanS;I.
sraading irons. and stake ro5as "'eiisIs, t,
purpose OF branding the esIvas iuL .he tne
asine ~ ~ oe gotten to the pens. senar-
'as cattle intended for marFar